Intermittent Fasting Update

Weight Lost, in last 2 weeks: 4 pounds.

What worked:

• Taking occasional notes on mistakes, problems, and possible solutions. It allowed me to reflect on my choices, and make better choices the next day.
• Choosing healthier, lower calorie options to foods I already eat - I switched to fat free milk, low-fat or fat-free yogurt, egg white omelets, etc.
• Serving smaller portion sizes. I overate less.
• Fasting through dinner - from about 1pm, until breakfast the next day.
• Fasting twice a week.
• Tracking my weight every few days.
• Quitting drinking my calories - cutting out juice and soda and limiting the amount of creamer I used in my coffees worked super well.
• Drinking more water. This worked super well, because I just always carried a full refillable on me. 
• Setting an alarm on my phone to remind me when I'm supposed to be fasting.

What didn't work:

• Counting calories and sticking to a strict caloric number. I quickly got annoyed and quit counting.
• Quitting coffee. I love it too much, and I'd rather be fat and happy than miserable and caffeine deprived.
• Eating more protein. I don't know why, but it just didn't happen.
• Weighing myself every day. I usually forgot.
• Fasting through breakfast - it made me miserable and I ate more because I was miserable.
• I'm still not getting enough protein or iron. 
• I'm still eating too many carbs, and not enough vegetables.
• Fasting every day - ugh, don't try it. I got grouchy and mean.
• Exercising every day. I forgot and lost interest.

What I'm going to do different:

• Fasting twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
• Fasting starting at 1pm and going until the next morning.
• Focusing on high-protein foods.
• Eating at least 1 vegetable a day.
• No more counting calories, or sticking to a restrictive number.
• Continueing to drink my coffee.
• Weighing myself once a week.
• Focusing on lower-calorie, healthier alternatives.
• Trying to exercise for at least five minutes everyday.
• Schedule all my fasts into my phone calendar, with an accompanying alarm.

Overall, I like it. Intermittent fasting seems incredibly natural. It was easy and comfortable. And it takes pressure off the focus on eating super-low calorie foods because I'm going a while without calories, which naturally lowers my daily consumption. It takes away a lot of the pressure on my food choices, and makes eating more enjoyable and fun. :)